Yard to the Post @ Chipping Norton Stakes Day
Race Day: Royal Randwick on Saturday, 03 March 2018
Fiercely Determined. Totally Dominant. Champion.
There are countless words you can use to describe WINX, who once again proved why she is the best horse in the world at Royal Randwick today as she returned for her Autumn campaign.
A sticky SOFT 5 surface at the central Sydney track were made to order for the strong athletic daughter of Street Cry. She relishes testing conditions and the Group 1 Derby winner PRIZED ICON couldn’t get within seven lengths of her as a result.
It’s onto The Championships now and maybe even Royal Ascot for the English summer.
Another popular result was Ron Quinton’s mare DIXIE BLOSSOMS, who also loved the conditions and sprinted best from the back to beat Godolphin’s RAIMENT in the Group 2 Guy Walter Stakes. It was the second big win for Quinton in as many weeks after DAYSEE DOOM returned victorious at Rosehill Gardens.
But the short-priced favourites didn’t win all day, perhaps it was the sticky track that dampened the brilliance of ALIZEE in the Group 1 Surround Stakes for fillies. The favourite was back in the pack, delivered a short sprint, but weakened for 6th as she chased SHOALS, the Freedman-trained filly reversing her form to win.
Golden Slipper markets continued to take shape as SANTOS won the Skyline Stakes narrowly and Melbourne raider SEABROOK won the Sweet Embrace Stakes.
Races below updated Monday 6pm and a detailed review of two-year-old races available Wednesday 9am.
photo: @atc_races
Track Info
| Rail | +3m |
| Conditions | SOFT 5 (bit sticky) |
| Weather | FINE |
| Bias | OFF RAILS |
Race 1 TAB HIGHWAY PLATE
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fui San | Terry Robinson | Jason Collett | 6 | 57.5 | |
| 2 | Mister Marmalade | Danny Williams | Christian Reith | 3 | 59.0 | |
| 3 | Celtic Trail | Sally Taylor | Adam Hyeronimus | 4 | 55.5 |
Race 2 THE TAHITI TRAVEL CONNECTION HANDICAP
Progressive stayers battle it out
steady tempo
Bias:
off-rails
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Just Shine | Clare Cunningham | Jason Collett | 5 | 54.5 | |
| 2 | Tamarack | Eric Musgrove | Jay Ford | 7 | 53.0 | |
| 3 | The Getaway | Paul Perry | Joshua Parr | 1 | 58.5 |
In The Running
ALMOST COURT controlled a STEADY tempo in the early stages with TAMARACK on his outside before setting off for a LONG SPRINT home from the 700m.
The Result
JUST SHINE (1st) ran down the leaders late, beating home TAMARACK (2nd 0.4L), who was strong to the line after getting out-sprinted. THE GETAWAY (3rd 1.9L) grabbing a place from ALMOST COURT (4th 2.1L).
The Interest
Nothing against Chris Waller, but it's nice to see the other stables with progressive stayers, Clare Cunningham (with boyfried Jason Collett on board!) bring a quality galloper through his grades. TAMARACK also with plenty of upside for Jo Pride, especially when he gets an honest FAIR to STRONG tempo (bit one-paced). No knock on ALMOST COURT *(off rails bias against), who may have been in the lesser ground. THE GETAWAY turned around some terrible form back to 2000m.
Race 3 SCHWEPPES SKYLINE STAKES
strong tempo
Bias:
2w+
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Santos | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | Tim Clark | 3 | 55.5 | |
| 2 | Spin | Peter & Paul Snowden | Kerrin McEvoy | 5 | 55.5 | |
| 3 | Legend of Condor | Gerald Ryan & Sterling Alexiou | Glyn Schofield | 4 | 55.5 |
Race 4 CHANDON S SWEET EMBRACE STAKES
fair tempo
Bias:
2w+
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seabrook | Mick Price & Michael Kent (Jnr) | Hugh Bowman | 12 | 55.5 | |
| 2 | Fiesta | Chris Waller | Kerrin McEvoy | 8 | 55.5 | |
| 3 | Into the Abyss | John Thompson | Christian Reith | 14 | 55.5 |
Race 5 LIVERPOOL CITY CUP
Bjorn Baker gets a bonus Group 3 win
fair tempo
Bias:
2w+
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Crack Me Up | Bjorn Baker | Jason Collett | 2 | 59.0 | |
| 2 | Care to Think | Matthew Dunn | Jeff Lloyd | 12 | 58.5 | |
| 3 | Burning Passion | Mark Newnham | Joshua Parr | 1 | 57.0 |
In The Running
OXFORD POET rolled to the lead at a FAIR tempo, MACKINTOSH up on-pace and CARE TO THINK not getting much cover just behind him before moving up wide on the turn. A FAIR tempo set up.
The Result
CRACK ME UP (1st) edged wider in the pack and finished off best late to beat CARE TO THINK (2nd 0.5L) who had fought his way to the lead early in the straight. BURNING PASSION (3rd 0.7L) challenged up the inside. EGG TART (4th 1L) followed the winner and stormed home.
The Interest
CARE TO THINK had beaten CRACK ME UP easily at the Magic Millions last start, but a quick Gold Coast track is very different to a testing Randwick surface. CRACK ME UP had won the Villiers, changed trainers to Bjorn Baker since (previous trainer under investigation) and now returned a winner in Sydney. BURNING PASSION and EGG TART back in form and worth following. ARTLEE #(raced keenly) maybe worth another chance. ARBEITSAM **(held up) didn't get luck on the inside.
Race 6 TAB CHIPPING NORTON STAKES
She's back and more dominant than ever!
strong tempo
Bias:
off-rails
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Winx | Chris Waller | Hugh Bowman | 6 | 57.0 | |
| 2 | Prized Icon | Kris Lees | Glyn Schofield | 4 | 59.0 | |
| 3 | Classic Uniform | Gary Moore | Andrew Adkins | 2 | 59.0 |
In The Running
STAMPEDE was pushed to the lead and rolled along at an honest tempo, just on the STRONG side given the final three sectionals of the leader (11.85, 12.14, 13.36). JEMADAR on his outside and VINLAND keen out three wide midfield. WINX was a touch slow to begin and got a nice run back in the pack. PRIZED ICON a touch keen also just off the leaders.
The Result
WINX (1st) circled the field on the turn and stormed away for a massive win. PRIZED ICON (2nd 7L) fighting on with CLASSIC UNIFORM (3rd 7.5L) and LIBRAN (4th 8.5L) making some ground up the rails.
The Interest
She's back! And thank god she's as good as she's ever been! The track conditions suited her perfectly today, she ran a rapid time and good luck to anything that takes her on for the rest of this prep, whether in Australia or Europe. A minor issue in the report for WINX +(lost plate). PRIZED ICON just fair running 2nd against an average lot over 1600m, maybe the sticky conditions weren't ideal for him. LIBRAN *(bias against) set up well for the carnival after this run. In hindsight, her starting price of $1.09 was incredible value.
Race 7 JAMES BOAG'S PREMIUM SURROUND STAKES
Back to Randwick and back in form
fair tempo
Bias:
2w+
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Shoals | Anthony & Sam Freedman | Joshua Parr | 4 | 56.0 | |
| 2 | Torvill | Clarry Conners | Christian Reith | 11 | 56.0 | |
| 3 | Rimraam | David & B Hayes & T Dabernig | Kerrin McEvoy | 3 | 56.0 |
In The Running
SHUMOOKH jumped OK and drove through to lead from SHOALS on her outside. A FAIR tempo set up. UNFORGOTTEN stuck wide in midfield with no cover until the 600m, when RIMRAAM shifted out 3W and put MELODY BELLE out 4W near the pace. ALIZEE got back in the pack and was a touch keen early.
The Result
SHOALS (1st) fought on best to beat TORVILL (2nd 0.5L) running on. A brave SHUMOOKH (3rd DH 0.7L) crossing the line together with RIMRAAM (3rd DH 0.7L).
The Interest
She is a classy filly at her best that didn't respond in a tight spot first-up, the real SHOALS returning to form today at a track she has won at before. Not much between the first few though in a very close finish. MOSS TRIP (5th 1.5L) *(bias against) very brave up in grade. ALIZEE (6th 1.8L) ran a very rapid 400m to 200m (11.2, similar to Winx!), but she then peaked on her run. The sticky conditions probably not ideal for the big-striding daughter of Sepoy. Lots of chat about the 9am betting move for UNFORGOTTEN (11th 7.6L) *(stuck wide) +(cardiac arrhythmia), who drifted heavily late and ran poorly, with some excuses.
Race 8 GUY WALTER PROVEN THOROUGHBREDS STAKES
Ronny makes it two from two
fair tempo
Bias:
2w+
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dixie Blossoms | Ron Quinton | Christian Reith | 8 | 56.0 | |
| 2 | Raiment | James Cummings | Tye Angland | 4 | 55.5 | |
| 3 | Francaletta | Murray Baker & Andrew Forsman | Kerrin McEvoy | 11 | 55.0 |
In The Running
FRANCALETTA went to the lead and was pressured by DANISH TWIST moving up, RAIMENT then tracking up three wide. A FAIR tempo set up. ECSKTEIN over-raced in midfield. DIXIE BLOSSOMS at the back.
The Result
DIXIE BLOSSOMS (1st) came wider, quickened and ran on best to beat a brave RAIMENT (2nd 0.8L). FRANCALETTA (3rd 2.1L) just holding off NETTOYER (4th 2.2L) chasing up the inside.
The Interest
She was set for this, Ronny Quinton claiming his second win in as many weeks with his two favourite mares, first DAYSEE DOOM and now DIXIE BLOSSOMS. She relished the conditions, settled well at the back (as she always does) and Reith saved her run for the right moment. RAIMENT *(stuck wide) very strong in conditions she enjoys also. FRANCALETTA heavily backed and solid. NETTOYER (4th 2.2L) another that loves the sticky track, follow her with caution if she gets back to firm conditions next time out (a good one for a wet Autumn day at Randwick). ECKSTEIN #(raced keenly) too keen in the run. DANISH TWIST #(keen) *(tightened, lost ground) (not ridden out) with plenty of problems!
Race 9 CHAMPIONSHIP HOSPITALITY HANDICAP
fair tempo
Bias:
2w+
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Osborne Bulls | James Cummings | Tye Angland | 5 | 59.0 | |
| 2 | Ghostly | Matthew Dunn | Glyn Schofield | 14 | 56.0 | |
| 3 | Star Reflection | Kris Lees | Hugh Bowman | 15 | 56.0 |
